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Bush Aides Must Testify: Judge

Judge rejects administration's interpretation of executive privilege

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 31, 2008 12:36 PM CDT

(Newser) – Turning aside White House arguments that top aides are protected from subpoenas by executive privilege, a judge ruled today that Harriet Miers must testify before a congressional committee on the firings of nine federal prosecutors, the Washington Post reports. Miers and fellow aide Joshua Bolten can, however, invoke executive privilege in declining to respond to specific questions.

"The Executive cannot identify a single judicial opinion that recognizes absolute immunity for senior presidential advisors in this or any other context," wrote the judge. "The asserted absolute immunity claim here is entirely unsupported by existing case law." While congressional leaders hailed the decision as a step in getting Karl Rove to comply with his subpoena, the Justice Department is expected to appeal.

White House counsel Harriet Miers waves as she walks into the White House after withdrawing her nomination as Supreme Court justice in this Oct. 27, 2005 file photo.
White House counsel Harriet Miers waves as she walks into the White House after withdrawing her nomination as Supreme Court justice in this Oct. 27, 2005 file photo.   (AP Photo)
Former White House counsel Harriet Miers begins her courtesy calls on the Senate, in this Oct. 3, 2005, file photo.
Former White House counsel Harriet Miers begins her courtesy calls on the Senate, in this Oct. 3, 2005, file photo.   (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington in this Feb. 7, 2005 file photo.
White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington in this Feb. 7, 2005 file photo.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
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